Wire fence stretcher



July 28, 1953 u. G. USHER WIRE FENCE STRETCHER Filed Jan. 12, 1949 w 4 G H Patented July 2 8, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WIRE FENCE STRETCHER Ulysses G. Usher, Springfield, 111.

Application January 12, 1949, Serial No. 70,535

My invention relates to means for stretching wire fences; an object being to provide means for efliciently and conveniently stretching such fences when needed. f

A further object of my invention is to provide a simple and economical wire fence stretcher.

A particular purpose of my invention is to provide a sturdy ratchet and pawl type of fence stretcher wherein the entire unit can be set up for use in a few minutes by one personffand operated by one person; and this along with the advantage of easily and automaticallyvholding the fence firmly in place after each swing of the ratchet lever. .1

I secure the intended results of my fence stretcher by the invention described in this specification, defined in the claim, and shown in the drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective of my fence in use.

Figure 2 is a top view of the device shown in Fig. 1.

stretcher 1 Claim. (Cl. 254-83) Figure 3 is a side view of the device shown in Fig. 1.

Figure 4 shows a detail of the fence stretched tight and stapled to the post.

I now wish to set forth the salient features of my invention as I make reference to the drawings.

In Figure 1, it will be noted that with my invention in use I proceed to stretch a wire fence I at a terminal or corner post 2 by clamping clamp plates 3 together on a fence wire I by clamp screws 4 as the stretcher hook 5 is hooked on to these clamps.

Here the stretcher yoke 6 is set firmly up against post 2 as an anchorage for the stretcher frame I, the rear end 8 of which is operatively rested on an eccentric anchor 9 adapted in use for operable support at the desired level for stretching such a wire fence.

Note that wire fence I, when stretched will be firmly stapled to corner or terminal post 2, and it will be essential in the fence stretching operation to manipulate the stretcher in a way that will permit the fence wires to thus be secured to post 2 on the tight side of hook 5 holding clamp plates 3 and the operative construction of my stretcher makes ample room (see the drawings), for this to be done.

It will be desirable to have my fence stretcher working on a level with the point of attachment of hook 5, so I am providing for a vertical telescoping adjustment I0 for bearing II of adjustable anchor 9.

Frame I carries rack 12 with notches IS on its side that are successively engaged by pivoted pawl I4 which is moved, step by step, by the ratchet movement of the fence stretching lever I5 to which this pawl is resiliently pivoted on pin I6 and with pawl I9 held in place against notches I8 along the top of rack I2 are, at the same time, automatically engaged resiliently, by pawl I9 on frame 1 pivoted by pin 20 and held in place against notches I8 by spring 2I. Handle end 22 of pawl I9 is for releasing rack I2 after wire fence I has been stretched to the tension desired.

Thus it will be seen that I am able to stretch a wire fence with prompt and effective dispatch with a minimum of eifort.

Having thus described my wire fence stretcher what I claim is:

A fence stretcher for wire fences, comprising a horizontal rack with its free end shaped to define a hook, a horizontal frame member shaped to define at one end a sleeve for said rack, having at its central portion shaped to define a sliding guide and housing for said rack and at its free end shaped to define a notched fulcrum terminal for engaging a fence post during a wire stretching operation a horizontally and vertically adjustable anchoring post, a supporting bar integral with said horizontal sleeve and an upright collar provided on said anchoring post slidably engaging said bar of said sleeve, a pivoted ratchet lever anchored to the face of said sliding guide for said ratchet bar and a pawl pivotally secured thereto and operable for a step by step pull against said hook of said rack, an automatic retaining pawl pivoted to the top of said frame member adjacent the sleeve portion thereof and operable to hold said rack in the respective positions of stretching adjustment to which the rack has been moved by said lever in the operations of stretching a fence, means operable with said stretcher assembly for detachably clamping wires of a fence to be stretched, said anchoring post provided with a base leg having a means for its swinging adjustment about its vertical center, means for securing said support base in selected pivoted positions about said upright collar.

ULYSSES G. USHER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 797,669 Dems Aug. 22, 1905 825,906 Hobart July 17, 1906 837,259 Chandler Nov. 27, 1906 1,035,028 McMillan Aug. 6, 1912 1,273,889 b08841 "nu-"nu July 30. 1918 

